| Highlights of Malta |
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| Malta packs more medieval fortifications into a small area than perhaps any other country. Malta's capital Valletta is built upon massive walls, essential to 16th Century defense. Now the walls are tourist attractions and part of a unique World Heritage Site that includes Valletta in its entirety. Above is historic Fort St Angelo, on Vittoriosa, as seen from Senglea, peninsulas that help form Malta's Grand Harbor. |
| Call them the Knights of Malta, Knights Hospitaller of St John of Jerusalem, Knights of Rhodes, Knights of St John, among other names, but they are the last remaining order of original Christian Crusaders. Now, as it was in the beginning, they have returned to running hospitals and practicing medicine, based in Rome. For centuries the Knights ruled Malta as fierce warriors on land and sea, building fortifications strong enough to defeat the great Ottoman Empire siege of 1565, later expanding their walls to discourage subsequent attacks. |
| Mdina is inland, part of central Malta. This ancient citadel, like Malta itself, has known many rulers. The Arabs/Moors took over in the 9th Century, and their name stuck, which means "walled city". Under subsequent Christian control, St Paul's Cathedral was built, now dominating the high ground. Mdina seems lost in some long ago vanished time. |
| Malta Table of Contents |
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| If you have a high speed internet connection, watch the entire free Intrepid Berkeley Explorer video of Sicily and Malta, "Don Corleone's Island", by clicking on AdventurePics.com |